Sexual Behavior During the Times of COVID-19-Related Lockdown in India: Results From an Online Survey

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is the worst health emergency the world has seen in the last 100 years. It has adversely affected human life both directly and indirectly. The pandemic has led various countries to opt for lockdown to control the outbreak. India had also enforced lockdown in the country from 25 March 2020 in various phases. Lay reports have been speculative about the effects of this lockdown on the sexual practices of people.Method: The current study was a cross-sectional, online study performed to evaluate change in sexual behavior during the period of lockdown using a structured pro forma that studied the sociodemographic parameters, Arizona sexual experience scale, and sexual behavior of respondents before and during the lockdown.Result: Overall, 290 respondents were analyzed. Our research showed that there has been a decrease in the practice of vaginal sex during the lockdown but, the practice of anal sex increased among respondents who preferred it. Sexual experiences were better in respondents who were females, married, and working in essential services.Conclusion: The effect of lockdown on sexual behavior has been extensive, with couples adopting newer activities in their repertoire. The lockdown has also affected sexual behavior by its indirect effect on family life like increased time spent together within the boundaries of walls, direct or indirect financial loss, and lack of recreational options. There is a considerable amount of heterogeneity in the studies in this field and more studies are warranted.